Opponents torch Tories for dodging debates

Opposition parties roasted Alberta Premier Jim Prentice and his Tory candidates Wednesday for dodging public debates and forums during high-stakes byelection races that are slated to wrap up in less than two weeks.

Opposition parties roasted Alberta Premier Jim Prentice and his Tory candidates Wednesday for dodging public debates and forums during high-stakes byelection races that are slated to wrap up in less than two weeks.

Prentice, a former federal Conservative MP currently fighting for a seat in the provincial legislature, has declined invitations to engage in at least two all-candidates’ forums in Calgary-Foothills.

Similarly, the party’s candidate in Calgary-West declined to attend a debate in that riding.

“It seems somewhat disrespectful to voters … and to the democratic process to avoid an all-candidates debate,” said Kathy Macdonald, the Wildrose candidate running against Prentice.

Macdonald said she is taking every opportunity to engage with voters, including a planned forum Wednesday in Calgary, which the premier declined to attend.

In an interview, Prentice said he was unable to participate in Wednesday’s event because of previous commitment — a “blitz” in the Calgary-West constituency where the PCs’ candidate, Mike Ellis, faces Wildrose opponent and former Calgary Board of Education trustee Sheila Taylor.

“I committed to be part of that effort,” Prentice said.

He declined to commit to any public forums in Calgary-Foothills for the remainder of the byelection race and was unaware of any efforts to schedule such an event in the riding.

During the Tories’ leadership race, Prentice was heavily criticized by fellow candidates Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk for refusing to participate in a televised debate, although he did appear at several PC party policy forums.

But Brian Lee, a former PC MLA and now the president of the Calgary Leadership Forum, said the premier’s enthusiasm for debates appears to be anything but clear.

“We’ve been bending over backwards to make this work and I have not heard from them,” Lee said, referring to the Leadership Forum’s unsuccessful efforts to secure Prentice for a public forum in Calgary-Foothills.

Lee, a former city alderman, said his multi-partisan Calgary Leadership Forum organization began contacting candidates shortly after the byelections were announced to organize at least one event in each of the local ridings up for grabs.

It hosted a well-attended forum last week in Calgary-Elbow that attracted the candidates from all parties, including the PCs’ Gordon Dirks. Lee said he offered Prentice’s campaign 13 possible dates and 17 time slots for a forum in the Calgary-Foothills — invitations that have, to date, been ignored.

Without Prentice, a forum would be unlikely, Lee said, noting “the public are entitled to compare candidates in making their choice.”

Lee continues to plan a forum in Calgary-West for Sunday, but was rebuffed by a representative of Ellis, the rookie Tory candidate in the riding.

“They said they could get better use of their time knocking on doors and (a forum) wasn’t part of their strategy,” Lee said.

Ellis, a city police sergeant, said he sees more value in speaking to voters on their doorsteps but insisted he was, in fact, game for a debate.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that knows more about Calgary-West than me,” Ellis told the Herald. “I’ve been told there’s no value in doing a forum. If you want to have me there, I’ll be there.”

But the lack of PC participation in such forums shows they may be “chicken” of attending an open debate, said Liberal Leader Raj Sherman.

“Now, they’re hiding,” Sherman said Wednesday. “They’re hiding out when the public needs to know what they stand for and who they should vote for.”

Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said Prentice’s apparent reluctance to engage in public forums or debates runs counter to the premier’s mantra that the PC party is under new management.

“How does this line up with transparency and accountability?” Williams said.

“It’s pretty hard to reconcile those (by) not showing up for forums, not being open to situations where you don’t have control of the message.”

The byelection votes for Edmonton-Whitemud and three Calgary ridings will be held Oct. 27.

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